Woodlands Art League seeking community’s help

Published 12:50 pm, Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The Woodlands Art League is calling on residents and other community organizations for a helping hand as the group continues to face money issues at its new home on Grogan’s Park Center.

The WAL first celebrated the grand opening of its current location at 25136 Grogan’s Park Drive in February 2013 after moving into the complex in November 2012. The group previously was located in Market Street; however a desire among board members for the WAL to have its own home in an affordable location led the group to its new location.

However, the WAL is now coasting on its savings as it covers rent for its current home, president Joella Wheeler said. Not including utilities and other fees, the WAL pays about $4,000 a month. The group has an option to pay rent month-to-month after Sept. 15, but Wheeler said the WAL is seeking to avoid that.

“Moving back to Market Street isn’t an option, particularly because there’s no space,” Wheeler said. “With ExxonMobil moving into the area, rent prices are going crazy. Our best option is to stay here.”

Although membership hasn’t been a problem for the WAL, as it has about 375 members across the Houston area, finding a way to raise money has been challenging. Its artists have helped provide art pieces to benefit organizations like Habitat for Humanity, which the WAL raised $40,000 in just over two years, but the group hasn’t had a fundraiser focused on itself, Wheeler said.

The WAL also applies for grants when possible and gets a small percentage of money raised by artists offering classes at its gallery, but the group is having to pull money from its savings to cover costs, Wheeler said. While the Market Street location offered better foot traffic, the WAL is trying to attract visitors and artists to its new home.

“We’ve hit a wall,” Wheeler said. “We’ve had quite a few art sales but not quite to the tune of what we need. We would love to find an underwriter for our organization or find someone who would be willing to make donations to art here in The Woodlands.”

Having some form of underwriter would benefit both the WAL and the group or individual stepping up to donate, Wheeler said. The WAL could promote the underwriter via banners on its website as well as on promotional materials, and the WAL could utilize excess funds to create outreach initiatives and advertising for its programs and classes, which promote art in The Woodlands.

“We really need the kindness of bigger and more connected entities in The Woodlands to help us out,” Wheeler said. “What we provide to the community is livability as I believe any time there is art in the community, the people are happy.”